Fallen Leaves · reception & legacy
2023 · Aki Kaurismäki
How Fallen Leaves has been received, argued over, and remembered.
The arc
It premiered at Cannes 2023 as Kaurismäki's surprise return from self-declared retirement and won the Jury Prize; there was no reappraisal needed — it was greeted instantly as a late masterpiece and topped year-end lists (Cahiers du Cinéma named it the best film of 2023).
What's debated
The recurring squabble is whether its 81 deadpan minutes are 'minor Kaurismäki' or peak distilled Kaurismäki — plus lingering grumbling that the Academy left it off the final Best International Feature nominees after shortlisting it.
Its footprint
The cinema-date scene — a Jim Jarmusch zombie movie earnestly compared to Bresson and Godard on the way out — became instantly quotable cinephile catnip, and the film's melancholy karaoke gave Finnish duo Maustetytöt an unexpected international audience.
Where it stands
An instant modern classic and certified Letterboxd darling, it's now the standard gateway recommendation into Kaurismäki's proletariat universe.
Named by the director
Influences Aki Kaurismäki has publicly named — the director's own word, distinct from the inferred lines of influence.
- Robert Bresson — In his Cannes director's statement, Kaurismäki joked the film shamelessly plagiarizes his idols, naming Bresson first.
- Yasujirō Ozu — Ozu is the second master Kaurismäki named in that same tongue-in-cheek confession of borrowed style.
- Charlie Chaplin — Chaplin completes the trio he cited — and the film's dog is pointedly named after him.